schneider



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. SCHNEIDER. BUFFER FOR GUN MOUNTINGS.

Patented Jan; 29; 1889.

N. PETER$ Pholo-Lilhognphcr. Washington. 0,0,

O Model.)

2 Sheets- Sheet 2, H. SCHNEIDER.

BUFPERPOR GUN MOUNTINGS.

Patented Jan. 29,1889.

MMhQM mg UNITED STATES HENRI SCHNEIDER,

PATENT QEETCE,

OF PARIS, FRANCE.

BUFFER FOR GUN-MOUNTINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,027, dated January29, 1889.

.Application filed November 10, 1888. Serial No. 290,477- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRI SCHNEIDER, manager of the firm of Schneider &Cie., manufacturers, of Le Creuzot, (Saone-etrLoireQ and a resident ofParis, in the Republic of France, have invented Improvements in Buffersfor Gun-Mountings and Provides for the Movements of Recoil and RunningOut in Battery, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in buffers for gun-mountings, andprovides for the movements of recoil'and running out in battery by meansof one valve only, the said valve acting automaticallythat is to say,without requiring any part of the apparatus to be worked by hand; and inorder that my said invention maybe fully understood I shall now proceedmore particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall referto the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings, the sameletters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates, in side elevation, abuffer arranged according to this invention. Fig. 2, drawn to a largerscale, shows the apparatus in horizontal section. Figs. 3 and atrepresent transverse sections taken on the lines 1 2 and 4,respectively, in Fig.

This buffer is constructed with a cylinder, A, which may be cast in one,with any description of gun-carriage B, or which may be made separatelyfrom the said carriage, being connected therewith by two flanges orshoulders, a a. This cylinder is filled with a suitable liquid andcontains a piston, C, attached to a piston-rod, D D, working instutfingboxes 1) Z) in each end of the cylinder A. The piston-rod D D isattached at the forward end to the lower or fixed frame of the mounting,being guided or supported at the rear in such a manner as to enable itto partake of the slight lateral or vertical movements resulting fromthe play of the carriage in its ways. The part of the rod marked D ismade hollow for the reception of a valve, e, on a rod, e, acted on by aspring, E, placed between two sleeves, (Z (Z. The sleeve (1 bearsagainst a shoulder, b on the valve-rod e, and the sleeve d bears againstan adjusting-screw, f, working in a stirrup or frame, g, screwed ontothe end of the piston-rod at h, where it also acts as the gland of thestuffing-box of the valve-rod e. The valve 6 is provided with a seat inthe piston O, and controls the passage or communication through passagesi, formed in the piston, between the spaces before and behind thepiston, which is provided with suitable packing on a cup-leather at j,so as to prevent any liquid from passing from one end of the cylinder tothe other except through the said passages \Yhen the apparatus is atrest, the passage for liquid through the piston is not entirely closed,the valve 6 being provided with small passages or recesses 7;, ofsufficient sectional. area to allow of the passage of the liquid fromone end of the cylinder to the other when the gun is being simply run inor out.

The action of the buffer is as follows: The load or compression of thespring E is permanently adjusted by means of the screw f, so as toproduce a pressure on the valve 6 slightly below the mean pressure ofthe liquid in the cylinder A at the time of the recoil. At thecommencement of the recoil, the area of the passages it in the valve 6being insufficient to allow the liquid to pass at a rate correspondingto the speed of the recoil at this period, the valve 6 is opened ormoved from its seat, compressing the spring E until the resistance ofthe latter first balances and then overcomes the pressure of the liquidacting on the valve. The pressure of the spring E, acting on the valve 6in the opposite direction to the pressure of the liquid, tends to closethe valve as the pressure in the cylinder diminishes in proportion tothe speed of the recoil. Consequently after a certain period thepressure of the spring is sufficient to close the valve e, and the areaof the passage for the liquid is then limited to that of the passages70, which remain open after the valve has returned to its seat.

It will. be observed that the closing of the valve takes placegradually, the sectional area of the opening or passage at 7; beingregulated at all points in the travel of the cylinder in accordance withthe varying speed of the recoil.

In running out or placing the gun in battery the liquid returns from theforward end of the cylinder to the rear end by flowing through theopenings k in the valve 6.

I claim as my invention- In buffers for gun-mountings, and with theobject of providing for the movements of re coil and of placing the gunin battery without any necessity for operating any gear or part of themechanism by hand, the combination of a hydraulic cylinder, A, with apiston, 0, attached to a rod, D D, connected to the lower or fixed partof the frame, and provided with a valve, 6, acted on by a spring, E, andpresenting permanent openings or passages 7t, connecting the two ends ofthe cylinder through passages i in the piston C, said Valve serving,according to its position, to open or to close more or less the passages'i, all arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefor'e set forthwith reference to the accompanying i5 drawings.

In testimonywhereo f I have sign ed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI SCHNEIDER.-

Vitn essesi CHARLES BRENOR, LEON FRANCKEN,

